JA Webster building looked at as future home of community center

The JA Webster building is being considered by town officials to be the new home of a community and senior center. Danielle Ray photo The ongoing discussion on the proposed new Senior Center finally has some direction again after selectmen voted at their Jan. 5 meeting to allow the Council on Aging to hire an inspector to visit the vacant JA Webster building on Route 12 as a possible site. The COA members followed up by voting at their Jan. 20 meeting to spend the money on that inspection, as well as any further inspections on that building.

“We were looking at a lot of different sites. When it was just going to be a senior center, it was too big. But now that it may be a lot of different departments [in one building] it could definitely work,” said COA and Senior Center Director Karen Phillips. “I think the building has a lot of potential for the town, not just for a senior center, but for the town. I personally think it’s a great idea.”

Board of Selectmen Chair Richard Sheppard echoed Phillips’ sentiments, saying the building could work out for all parties hoping to be included in the final results, such as the Recreation Department, COA, and the Sterling-Lancaster Community Television Corporation.

“It’s the domino effect,” said Sheppard. “If the [COA] moves out from downstairs of the Town Hall, that would leave space there. And if the Recreation Department moves out of the 1835 [Town Hall], the Health Department could move in.

“There are lots of pluses in the Webster building – parking, large spaces inside for indoor basketball, soccer, and tennis, and it comes fully furnished. The big thing is, can we afford it? Is it something we will grow into over the years? Or should we look at town property and build new? That would solve an awful lot of problems if this goes forward,” Sheppard said.

The JA Webster building, if it all works out, would have a new designation as a community center.

“It would bring into play the Recreation Department, and serve people of all age groups, a broad spectrum of the community as well as the seniors,” said Sheppard.

One thing both the COA and Board of Selectmen know is that if the project does seem viable, they will have to move quickly in order to get an article on the Town Meeting warrant for May which would fund the purchase of the property.

“Obviously, we want a short [inspection] timeline because of Town Meeting in May,” said Phillips. “We hope it will be done in the next month or so, depending on the inspector’s and realtor’s availability. We have to have a lot of answers by Town Meeting,” she added.

“The Council on Aging has agreed to spend their money to hire a commercial building inspector to go down and look at that and give us an assessment, and then it’s up to us to put together a need and a cost analysis that would satisfy the finance and capital committees, and the town,” said Sheppard. “That’s one big hurdle to get over, but that’s only one.”

Phillips said she is really hoping this, or another project, moves forward in the near future.

“We would be able to service more of the seniors in town, offer more programs and offer more help,” she said. “That’s what this is all about - meeting the needs of Sterling seniors. We would be able to offer so much more.”

“Any building we purchase would probably require extensive work…[but] this may not require major renovation,” said Sheppard. “There are a lot of positives; it just has to come together.”